For the development of the tribal citizens in the tribal areas of the state of Maharashtra, the state government has laid the ax of unemployment. Around 800 teachers are teaching art, sports, and computer subjects in the government ashram schools under various projects of the tribal development department.
These teachers have not been ordered to leave these teachers since the academic year June 2023. These teachers have been given compulsory leave. Against this, art sports and computer teachers have been on hunger strike at Azad Maidan since June 25. They demand to stop outsourcing recruitment and take full-time government service.
Art, sports, and computer teachers have been working in the government ashram school of the tribal development department of the state government since 2018. Their recruitment was done through advertisement, written exams, practical tests, interviews, document verification, and medical tests. During the Corona period, the teachers of these art, sports, and computer subjects rendered continuous service at the tribal padyas.
However, the government’s decision not to fire teachers during that time. Some teachers were fired at that time. This issue has not been resolved despite meeting the Tribal Development Minister from time to time. Promises are being received. During this meeting, the minister says that orders will be given in the next eight days or within a month.
Vaibhav Sule warns that the strike will intensify
The state government did not give us justice despite constantly demanding justice. Vaibhav Sule said that we are on a hunger strike. Sule said “Art and sports are qualities of students from tribal areas. We guide those qualities by guiding them properly. These children further benefit from computer skills. Therefore, the government should take us into permanent service without any conditions, demanding the hunger-striking art, sports, and computer teachers.”
The hunger strikers further said, “There has been no order to these teachers, but now we have a question about how these students will develop these skills, why the development of tribals.” Shailesh Valvi, the sports teacher of the Mat Taloda project, said that this movement will be intensified in the future.
Sports teacher Deepak Jopale has raised the question of why there is so much injustice towards the students of Government Ashram School. Eklavya School also has tribal students and Government Ashram School also has tribal students.
